Athletics trade IF Nick Allen to Braves

So ends the Nick Allen era at shortstop

The A’s reported a notable trade late Monday evening, announcing that the club has traded infielder Nick Allen to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for RHP Jared Johnson:

This finally brings to an end the Allen experiment at shortstop. Originally a 3rd-round draft pick way back in 2017, Allen was always a stud defender at shortstop but just could never figure it out with the bat. While Allen has been able to mash Triple-A pitching he’s continuously struggled against major league competition. Over 760 at-bats with the A’s over the past three seasons he’s hit just .209/.254/.283 with just eight stolen bases. Even if he has been a plus defender, that just won’t cut it at the major league level. And with the arrival of top prospect Jacob Wilson to the major leagues, Allen’s spot with the Athletics was always going to be short-lived. He now moves on to a team where he will have the chance to play meaningful innings at shortstop as the Braves continue their search for a shortstop. Allen will be reunited with former teammates Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, and Ramon Laureano.

Coming back the other way will be right-handed reliever Jared Johnson. The 23-year-old righty spent the 2024 season at High-A and posted strong results, going 7-4 with a fantastic 2.80 ERA over 38 relief appearances. Relatively old for his level, Johnson should begin the 2025 season with Double-A Midland and could become an option for the bullpen at some point next season if he keeps it up. Did the A’s just find a useful reliever for a busted prospect? Time will tell.